Pumping power for oil wells



Jan. 19 1926.

R. A. DRESSER PUMPING POWER FOR OIL WELLS Filed August 21 I 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w QR'XXQW 7 BY\ W TTORNEY Jan. 19 1926.

DRESSER PUMPING POWER FOR OIL WELLS s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed August 21 1925 Jan. .19 1926. 1,570,343 R. A. DRESSER PUMPING POWER FOR OIL WELLS Filed August 21, 1925 s Shets-Sheet s I r L/TEH W Z 544/ M NDTOK Z46 Z42 m 24; 1 ii Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

ROBERT A. DRESSER, or BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

PUMPING POWER FOR OIL WELLS.

Application filed August 21, 192-5. 'serial'no. 51,721.

To all 'wliomz't may concern:

Be it known that 'I,'R0BERT AJDRESSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bradford, in the county 'of 'Mc'Kean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPumping-Iower for OilVVells; and I do hereby declare the following'to be a'full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others'skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and 'use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the same, and a slight modification thereof, selected by' me for purposes of illustration and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims. 7

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and economical and convenient pumping mechanism foroil wells. 'As is "well known, it is customary to drill a number of wells inan oil' lease or property, and to arrange for 'the'pumping of these wells from a power plant located'adj acent thereto. These pumping installations usually include a power house covering the engine or motor for supplying the necessary power, and a separate building containing the "pumping 1 power mechanism, which is connected to the engine or motor, 'by'a belt or otherwise, and is provided "with horizontally "rotatable cranks, or eccentrics, which are connected by means of a plurality of cables 1 extending horizontally over the ground, and'supported by pendulous' supports'fro'm tripods or other supporting means, said cables extending to the various wells,"at each end of which is located abellcrank, one arm'of which is connected tonne of the cables, the other arm to a vertical-pump rod for the pump of that well. As'the cranks or eccentrics are rotated, the several pumps connected therewith by the horizontal power cables, are

eccentrics for driving the same.

actuated. 'Itfrequently becomes necessary to drive additionahwells in'the territory which is being pumped, contiguous to the power installation, and it very frequently happens that a well is sunk at such a location that it is impossible to run a pumping cable to the power mechanism on account of the'power house, or somestationary part of the pumping power mechanism being in the way. This arrangement also necessitates the construction of 'two*buildings, and adds considerably to the cost of pumping the wells.

In order to secure a pumping power mechanism which can be connected with the wells in every possible direction, it has'been proposed to place the actuating cranks, or eccentrics, at a considerable elevation above theground and locate the engineor motor,

and its operative connections for driving the cranks or eccentrics, below the same, but this is very objectionable for the reason that it is difiicult to properly support the cranks or eccentrics, which are subjected to heavy lateral strains, so far above the foundations upon which the mechanism is supported,

and secondly itmakes it necessary to correspondingly elevate both the pumping cables and the means for supporting them at different'points in their length, which is-also objectionable and expensive. 7

According to my invention, I propose to provide a pumping power mechanism mounted upon a base plate supported upon a suitable foundation and provided with a pair of eccentrics located as close to the base plate or foundation as possible, and driven by a centrally located pinion, engaging a large gear wheel operatively connected with each of said eccentrics, eccentric rings engaging each "of said eccentrics, and being provided with means for attaching the pumping cables at various points around their'periphery, it being usually possible to have such cables extend in a straight line from each eccentric for more than 180 around" each eccentric, without encountering any stationary part of the mechanism, and thus making it easily possible to extend pumping cables from one or the other ec centric of the power mechanism in every direction therefrom. This is permitted by the location of the motor for driving the power mechanism entirely above the plane pumping power mechanism by a train of gearing, so as to insure the operation of the eccent i at th maximum speed when the engine is running at normal speed. As is well known, an internal combustion engine develops its greatest efficiency when operating at high speed, and in this way I am able to provide a comparatively inexpensive outfit. As it is often desired. by persons pup chasing a pumping power mechanism to drive the eccentrics at lower than their maximum speed, I may also provide suitable change weed mechanism interposed, preferably be .r. the motor and the train of ding to the eccentrics, in order rics may be driven at variable speeds accordirg' to the wishes of the owner, without slow down the speed of the motor. thus enabling the motor to operate at its mosteconomic speed while the speed of the eccentrics may be changed by manipulating the change speed mechanism. As before stated, I prefer to employ an internal combustion engine the motor, and in such case, the motor, as well. as the accesseries, such as the fuel tank, radiator, etc., are all mounted above the eccentrics. In some ii ances I may employ an electric motor in place of an internal combustion motor, which for the same reason is provided with change speed gearing and speed reducin gearing between the motor and the eccentrics, so that the motor may run at its normal speed all the time, regardless of c of speed of the eccentrics, and obvi- & the use of anything more in the way of control mechanism for the motor than the usual rting rheostat.

In many 1' stances it becomes necessary to install pumping power on a side hill where the surface of the ground slopes at a con siderable and in such case it is of 'se rv that the plane of the eccenshall be subs lly parallel to the ie pumping cables short distance above the I p -.el thereto. As the tilting ap 'iaratus would have the effect the e. and interfering with i lubricants and also the and the circulation of itor, it is desirable in such re the engine or anotor in a less of the inclinaecessary to impart to the supper and the eccentrics. I therefore pro: .cie means whereby the engine may be rotated with respect to the engine sh t and the supporting means for the enne base, so as to maintain it in a truly vertical position dless of the position of the base, and my invention also contemplates similar means for supporting an electric motor in case it is used or the source of power. My invention also comprises certain novel features of construction and comhination of parts hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

vcrtica tion wl rich Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 represents an end View of a pumping power mechanism embodying my in vention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2---2 of Fig. 1, the driving gears and pinion for the eccentric being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the device showing it located upon an inclined supporting surface, the engine or motor being supported in vertical position.

Fig. l is a detail view, partly in section, showing :1. portion of the engine base and illustrating the means for supporting the same in different angular positions with respect to the main frame carrying the eccentric.

Fig 5 represents a detail view showing one of the supports for the engine or motor.

Fig. 6 represents a section on the line 13- 5 of 4 Fig. 7 represents a slight modification in which the engine is provided with change speed gearing.

Fig. 8 represents a further modification, in which the electric motor is substituted for the internal combustion engine illustrated in the preceding figures.

Fig. 9 represents a similar view to Fig. 8, showing a change speed gearing interposed between the motor and the train of gearing leading to the eccentrics.

Fig. 10 represents a detail sectional view illustrating means for supporting the motor so that it can be maintained in vertical position, regardless of the position of the eccentrics.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, 1 represents the base plate of heavy cast iron intended to be supported by a suitable bed of cement, timbers, or otherwise on the field where the pumping power is to be utilized. Upon the bed plate are mounted a pair of stationary, vertical, shafts, or pillars, indicated at 2-2, supported at their lower ends by ths base plate and having their upper ends rigidly connected to a longitudinally disposed frame, 3, formed of girders or channel irons. suitably bolted or otherwise secured to the upper ends of the shafts or pillars, 2. The longitudinal frame, 3, preferably carries a transverse frame, indicated at 4, also composed of channel bars, bolted together and to the frame, 3, and to secure the greatest possible strength, I prefer to connect the outer ends of the transverse frame, 4 with the base plate by means of bracket arms, 5-5, bolted or otherwise secured thereto. This forms a very open, but extremely rigid and strong frame, in which the eccentrics and driving mechanism therefor, are sup ported, and upon which the motor for op rating the eccentrics is superimposed. Each of the shafts, 2, is provided with an eccentric, 6, engaging an eccentric strap, 7, provided with a plurality of vertically disposed pairs of apertures, indicated at 7*, arranged in a circular series and adapted to receive vertical bolts, 8, by which the pumping cables may be attached to the eccentric rings. The eccentrics are mounted to rotate upon the respective shafts or pillars, 22, and each eccentric is rigidly secured to a driving gear wheel, 9, preferably by means of bolts, indicated at 9. Between the large gear wheels, 99, is a small driving pinion, 10, on a vertical shaft, 11, supported in bearings in the base plate, 1,, and in the longitudinal frame, 3, and extending between and through the transversely disposed frame,4, where it is provided with a beveled gear wheel, indicated at 12, which is engaged by a beveled pinion, 13, on a horizontal shaft, 14, mounted in suitable bearings on the transverse frame, 4. In order to prevent torsional strains on the transverse frame, 4, its outer ends are connected with each end of the longitudinal frame, 3, by brace rods, 15--15. The shaft, 14, extends into a gear case, indicated at 16, and is provided within said case with a largegear wheel, 17, meshing with a driving pinion, 18,0n a shaft, 19, which is preferably coaxial with the'driving or crank shaft of the motor, and is connected thereto by means of a clutch mechanism, indicated at 20,'the specific construction of which is unimportant and need not be particularly described.

21 represents an internal combustion engine, which is shown as mounted on the supporting frame work, entirely above and out of the way of the pumping eccentrics. As it is frequently necessary to set up these pumping powers on a side hill, for example, I prefer to provide means for supporting the motor in a vertical position regardless of the position which the base plate, 1, may occupy with respect to the horizontal To this end I prefer to provide the inner end of the clutch case, 20, with a circular flange 22, and to provide the adjacent end of the engine base with a similar circular flange, 23, one of these flanges, as the flange of the clutch case (see Fig. 6) being provided with a circular series of bolts apertures, 24, spaced very close together, and the flange 23, of the engine case, in this instance, is provided with a plurality of bolt holes (six for example, as shown in Fig. 6) which may be brought into registration with certain bolt holes of the clutch case, 20, ina great variety of positions, so that the engine may be rotated upon the longitudinal axis of its driving shaft with respect to the clutch case, 20, and secured in any desired position, by bolts, 25, engaging the registering apertures, which will maintain the engine in a vertical position, regardless of the position of the base plate and the base plate will be arranged on a side hill so that its inclination shall be in the direction of its greatest length, as shown in Fig. 3. In order to enable the clutch case to'support the weight of one end of the engine base and the parts mounted thereon, said clutch case is pro-' vided with a heavy bracket, indicated at 26, supported upon a portion of the transverse frame, 4. The other end of the enginebase is preferably provided with meansfor supporting it in the desired position around the axis of its-driving shaft, and in the present instance I have shown a supporting bracket, 27, secured to the transverse frame, 4, and provided with a series of apertures, 28, arranged in a curve concentric with the axis of the engine shaft the latter being indicated at 29, and the adjacent end of the engine base is provided with a pair of downwardly extending lugs, indicated at 30, having registering bolt apertures therein adapted to register with one or other of the apertures, 28, and to be connected "with the bracket, '27, by a bolt, 31, thus rigidly supporting the engine base at both ends upon the frame work of the apparatus, to permit the engine to be adjusted in a rotary direc tion around the axis of its shaft, 29, in order that it may be held in vertical position. Above the engine base I support a series of tanks for fuel, water, etc., so that all parts connected with the engine are located clear of the eccentrics and their pumping cables or rods. For example, 32, is a tank for gasoline, for starting the engine, 33, is a tank for supplying heavier oil as kerosene for operating the engine, and 34, is a tank for supplying the radiator, 35, with water, and forming apart of'the cooling system in a well known way. Any suitable internal combustion engine may be employed in connection with the device, and will be provided with the usual means for starting and stopping it. The engine shaft can also be coupled to the shaft, 19, for driving the ec centrics by means of a clutch operating lever, 36, which in this instance is operated by a cam, 37, mounted on the clutch case, 20, and operated by means of a lever, 38, and link, .39, within convenient reach of the operator. Referring to Fig. 2,.it will be seen that the pumping rods, or cables, indi 1,20,

cated atAO, can be attached to the eccentrics, 6+6, in a very wide variety of positions extending considerably more than 180 around their respectiveaxes,'of rotation, 50 that a pumping cable can be made to extend from one or the other of said eccentrics in practically every direction, and therefore no matter what additional wells may be connected to the pumping power, thiscan' be accomplished without interference from any part of the apparatus. It will also be seen that a single house or enclosing structure can readily be placed around the entire apparatus to protect it from the weather, the pumping rods being permitted to reciprocate through suitable apertures provided for the purpose in the walls thereof.

In some instances it is desirable to operate the eccentrics at a different rate of speed, i. e, strokes per minute, from that which may be preferred at another installation. It is also desirable to use the smallest power unit which will furnish the necessary power, and as an internal combustion engine develops its maximum power at a predetermined speed of the engine shaft, it is in some instances desirable to provide change speed gearing between the engine shaft and the gearing leading to the eccentrics in order that the eccentrics can be driven at different speeds in different installations, or under different circumstances, while the internal combustion engine is always operated at such a speed as to develop its maximum power. In Fig. 7 for example, I have shown the engine, here indicated at 121, provided with a change speed gearing, indicated at 141, operated by a suitable shifting lever, 142, and interposed between the clutch mechanism, indicated at 120, and the pinion, 118, within the gear case, 116, which transmits the power to the eccentrics in the same manner as illustrated in the preceding figures. The engine is mounted in the same manner as previously described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6, and the corresponding parts shown in Fig. '7 not specifically referred to, are given the same reference numerals with the addition of 100. In employing the construction illustrated in Fig. 7, it will be seen that by means of the change speed gearing, which may be of any usual or desired construction, the details of which form no part of my present invention, the engine itself may always be operated at its most efficient speed, while the speed of the eccentrics may be varied, according to the desires of the operator.

In Fig. 8 I have shown the horizontal, transverse frame of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, which is designated at 204 in Fig. 8, provided with a superimposed electric motor, 243, connected with the clutch mechanism, indicated at 220, which is the same as that illustrated in the preceding figures, and transmits the power of the motor to the driving pinion, 218, within the gear case, 216, in the manner hereinbefore described, the other corresponding parts of the apparatus being given the same nus merals as in Figs. 1 to 6 with the addition of 200. In order that the motor may occupy a vertical position, even though the device is installed on the side of a hill, I conveniently provide supporting mechanism for the motor, illustrated in Fig. 10. In

sinuse this instance the horizontal frame, 4, is pr;- vided with a supporting saddle, indicated at 244, having its upper face provided with a concave portion, 245, curved concentrically with the axis of the motor shaft, The motor base is provided with a bracket portion, 247, having its lower fare curved in the same curvature as the face, 245, of the saddle. It follows, therefore, that the motor may be rotated with respectto the saddle around the axis of the shaft, 240, so that it will remain vertical, notwithstanding the fact that the lower portion of the apparatus is supported on the side of a hill, or other inclined supporting surface, thus keeping the oil cups, oil passages, etc., truly vertical, and facilitating the lubrication of the device. The motor may be supported in its adjusted position by means of bolts, one of which is indicated at 248, engaging a n'ut, 249, rotatably mounted in thesaddle, or other equivalent construction.

As an electric motor also operates most economically and with maximum efliciency at predetermined speed of revolution of the armature, and as it is desirable to use as small a motor as possible in order to facllitate transporting the apparatus, which is usually employed in rather remote locations not easily accessible, I may, in some in stances, provide, as indicated in Fig. 9, change speed gearing, indicated at 241, between the crank case, 220, and the driving gear, 218, so that the motor may always be operated at the same speed and without requiring anything further in the way of control mechanism than the ordinary starting rheostat.

In the operation of my improved pumping power, it will be understood that the engine or motor will be started in the usual manner and allowed to operate until its eflicient speed has been obtained, when it will be connected by the clutch and the change speed mechanism, if that is employed, with the gearing leading to the eccentrics, thereby causing the eccentrics to rot-ate at the desired speed. The speed of the eccentrics may be varied to a certain extent, where an internal combustion engine is employed, by varying the position of the throttle valve, but for wide variations in speed of the eccentrics, I prefer to embloy the change speed gearing, so that the speed of the motor will not be materially changed. As the eccentrics are rotated, the eccentric straps, 7, will be caused to move, without rotating, in such manner as to impart a pull to each one of the pumping cables connected therewith. It will also be noted that as the pumping cables extend in different directions with respect to the axis of the shafts, 2-2, the pull on each cable is to a certain extent counterbalanced by the weight of the pumping rod connected with a cable or cables extending iin a nearly opposite 'Idirece tion, so that ianieven; and ,regularHdistribu-m tionof power; ,isproduced with corresponding ease-and steadiness of, operation. a

What I claim and desire to secure Leta ters Patent is entri a mpi pro d de it ea ttaching pumping rods or cables thereto,,aj

Prim m f r driv ng h ,v c entric mQiihtsda-t y the me n ge ring: .5 n s i the; Prim m r w h t e eccent c-t with a base plate, provided, with a ,pairpfff 2 In, a pumping ,po wer, mechanism, the

m a iqn-iwithsw ec entr c d'a en ic rap, Pr test-W t means ten t-i whin rum 1 s d b e es s-a prime motor 2 for. driving, the eccentric,

mounted above the same, gearing connecting.

the prime "motor with, the. eccentric, and

change speed mechanism interposed between theprime motor andfsaid gearing for en-v abling the eccentric to be driven at; varying speeds,'without, changing the speed of the,

otora 3, In a pumping power. mechanism; the combination with aneeccentric and an eccentric strap, provided with means for attaching pumping rods or cables thereto, a prime, motor for driving;v the eccentric,

mounted above the. same, reducing gearing interposed between the motor and the ece;

with the said eccentrics, eccentric straps for jacent to said base plate, a frame work supported by said base plate, and having'a por-- tionengagingthe upper endsof said shafts,

a driving shaft located centrally between said eccentric shafts and, gearing connecting it with said eccentric shafts, a prime motor supported on said frame work above said eccentrics and gearing, and operatively connected with said gearing for driving said eccentrics, and eccentric straps engaging said eccentrics and provided with means for connectingpumping rods or cables thereto, whereby said pumping rods or cables may extend in all directions from the pumping power.

5. In a pumping power, the combination with a base plate, a horizontal supporting frame located above the same and supported from the base plate, by supporting brackets connected to the base plate centrally between its ends, a pair of vertically disposed stationary shafts'mounted in the base plate and frame, eccentrics rotatably mounted on said shafts, gears connected with said eccentrics,

a centrally located vertical shaft mounted in c vided with a ,driving pinion: engaging ssaid, gears,- a bevelgear carried by the upper end of saidcentrallyfllocatedshaft, a horizontal.

" driving shaft'provided with abeveledpinion engaging said beveled gear a prime motor located above said frame works-and 1 supported thereby, gearing interposed ;be-;

tween the shaft,- ofthe motor, and said horimeans for connecting pumping; rods or cablesthereto.

6. Ina pumping power,thecombination e lly po ed ta ionary upp r ng shafts, a supporting frame work'secureid, to theupper end-of said-shaftsan eccentric ou edw ab y.up n c of id, hafts adjacent to theba seplate, a primamotor,

mounted on, the frame work ,and supported entirely above the plane of theeccentrics,

anddriving connections from the prime 7 motor to thej eccentrics, eccentric strapsen gaging-saideccentrics, and means for 0011 necting pumping cables thereto.-

In a pumping power, the-combination with a base plate, and a supporting frame located above the same, rotatable eccentrics supporting frame, a prime inotorf mounted above said supportingframe, and supported; thereby, bearing connecting the primemotor said eccentrics, and means for connectingpump ng cables 7 thereto, and means i for adust ngtheprlme motor ina rotary direction with respect to the axis of its driving mounted betweenithe base plate and, the

with a main Qframe,comprising a base and it pumpingveccentrics rotatably supported bemeans for connecting therewith pumping cables, an a, internalf combustion engine mounted upon and supported by the superstructure, reducing gearing for connecting the shaft to said internal combustion engine with said eccentrics, and means for supporting said engine in different adjusted positions with respect to the axis of its driving shaft to permit said engine to be supported in a vertical position when the base and super-structure are in an inclined position. v

9. In a pumping power, the combination with a main frame, comprising a base and a super-structure supported therefrom, pumping eccentrics rotatably supported between super-structure supported therefrom-a the base plate and superstructure and proan internal combustion engine mounted upon and supported by the super-structure, and having its base provided at one end with a circular flange concentric with the axis of the driving shaft of the engine, a supporting casing secured to the superstructure and having a corresponding circular flange, said flanges being provided with registering bolt holes, whereby the engine base may be adjusted in a rotary direction with respect to the axis of its driving shaft, and secured to the supporting flange, the other end of the engine base being provided with means for supporting it from the frame work in any of its adjusted positions.

10. In a pumping power, the combination with a main frame, comprising a base and a super-structure supported therefrom, pumping eccentrics rotatably supported between the base plate and super-structure and provided with eccentric straps having means for connecting therewith pumping cables, an internal combustion engine mounted upon and supported by the superstructure, and having its base provided at one end with a circular flange concentric with the axis of the driving shaft of the engine, a supporting casing secured to the super-structure and having a corresponding circular flange, said flanges being provided with registering bolt holes, whereby the engine base may be adjusted in a rotary direction with respect to the axis of its driving shaft and secured to the supporting flange, the other end of the engine base being provided with a supporting part, said super-structure being provided with a bracket to engage said supporting part, said supporting part and said bracket being provided, the one with a plurality of bolt holes adapted to register with bolt holes in the other part, and a bolt for connecting said supporting part and bracket in any position to which the engine may be adjusted.

11. In a pumping power, the combination with a supporting frame comprising a base plate, vertically disposed stationary shafts secured thereto, a longitudinal frame secured to the upper ends of said shafts, and a transverse frame supported upon said longitudinal frame, pumping eccentrics rotatably mounted on said stationary shafts and provided with eccentric straps having means for engaging pumping cables, a gearing connected with each of said eccentrics, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said base plate and frames and provided with a pinion engaging both of said gears, and with a horizontal bevel gear, a horizontal shaft mounted on said transverse frame provided with a bevel pinion engaging said bevel gear, an internal combustion engine mounted upon and supported by said transverse frame and having its driving shaft operatively connected with said horizontal shaft.

12. In a pumping power, the combination with a supporting frame comprising a base plate, vertically disposed stationary shafts secured thereto, a longitudinal frame secure=;l to the upper ends of said shafts, and a transverse frame supported upon said longitudinal frame, pumping eccentrics rotatably mounted on said stationary shafts and provided with eccentric straps having means for engaging pumping cables, a gear ing connected with each of said eccentrics, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said base plate and frames and provided with a pinion engaging both of said gears, and with a horizontal bevel gear, a horizontal shaft mounted on said transverse frame provided with a bevel'pinion engaging said bevel gear, an internal combustion engine mounted upon and supported by said transverse frame and having its driving shaft operatively connected with said horizontal shaft, means for adjusting said internal combustion engine in a rotary direction with respect to the axis of its driving shaft to maintain it in vertical position when the base plate is supported in an inclined position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT A. DRESSER. 

